A photo of a chief pouring a jerrican of chang'aa over a woman's head has shocked a government agency into action after widespread outrage.
The photo, which also attracted condemnation from some Kenyan leaders, shows the unidentified chief pouring the liquid, which was claimed to be hot, on the woman said to be 65 years of age.
The incident reportedly occurred on Saturday, April 11, in Turbo Constituency, Uasin Gishu County.
Speaking during an interview on Radio Citizen on Sunday, April 12, Ombudsman Chairperson Florence Kajuju stated that investigations had been opened into the incident.
She disclosed that officers in Eldoret were already investigating the incident to ascertain the photo's authenticity and look into the chief's behaviour.
“We will take necessary action against the chief if it is true he did that,” she stated.
After the image went viral on Saturday, outraged Kenyans, including leaders termed the chief's action as inhumane and demanded action to be taken against him.
Narc-Kenya party leader Martha Karua stated that the chief's action was criminal urging the Director of Public Prosecutions to investigate further. Law Society of Kenya (LSK) President Nelson Havi, on the other hand, pointed out that one day the people would grow tired of being oppressed.
"Sick! Inhumane! Brutal!" stated Ahmed Mohammed.
"Sometimes two wrongs do not make a right! She didn't deserve this. Would you sit down and let someone do this to your mother as you watch?" questioned another Twitter user.
“Don’t worry, soon enough the people will get tired of this nonsense and renegotiate the social contract. All they need is more of this oppression for them to reach their tare weight. Let the oppressor continue loading the weight," argued Havi.
